Stroll to Memory Lane Café

Peregrine's Landing
Senior Community and The Clubhouse Bro's Family Restaurant in Wheatfield have
partnered together to bring "Memory Lane Café" to local residents beginning
April 17.

The Clubhouse started
the concept on a small scale in 2011. After recognizing the need to reach more
people affected by Alzheimer's and dementia-related diseases, the two paired
their expertise to assist more families learn how to live with the disease and
enjoy the moment.

"No one should go
through this journey alone," said Charlene Brosius, group leader for the Café.
As a wife, mother, and daughter of a dad who had vascular dementia, I know
first hand the struggles when trying to balance it all. As a registered nurse
and certified dementia practitioner, I know how to help families live a better
life while going through this experience."

The idea is to bring
together people with Alzheimer's disease, their caregivers and trained
professionals in a non-institutional setting where they can have food, entertainment,
group activities and network with peers who are experiencing the same thing.
Trained professionals are present to assist families in creating fulfilling
moments, laugh and understand how to put a sense of normal back into their
lives.

Participants will
partake in group-appropriate activities and have a family style dinner. Families
can network and vent and provide feedback for future discussions and events.
Participants will be offered opportunities to plan other social outings both in
and away from the Café and even get respite as a caregiver. The restaurant
hosts the event and is closed for general business that evening.

Often family members
find it difficult to go out socially to restaurants in a "normal" setting. They
do not know how their loved one will be affected by the external stimulation
and lack of a scheduled routine, all factors which play into the daily life
living with the disease. Even if they do go out they often have to eat quickly
and leave. There is still among some a substantial social stigma related to
dementia, and even well meaning people sometimes do not know how to react.

"It's a
comfortable-style support group for caregivers and their loved ones," said
Kashia Baldelli, facilitator for the Café.

The first meeting on
April 17 will be a planning meeting for caregivers only. The free event will be
held once a month on the third Wednesday of the month, from 5 to 7 p.m. The
group will meet at The Clubhouse Bro's Family Restaurant, 3386 Niagara Falls
Blvd., Wheatfield. A $5 dinner is available, which includes beverages and
desserts provided courtesy of the Clubhouse. Activity material is provided by
Peregrine's Landing Senior Community. Call 716-474-3089 to confirm attendance.